A brace from Raheem Sterling plus goals by Aymeric Laporte, Rodri and Phil Foden saw Manchester City thrash Newcastle 5-0 at the Etihad.
The comprehensive triumph saw the champions return to the top of the table and move a step closer to defending their title. Sterling struck in either half while Laporte found the net during the first 45 minutes. Rodri and Foden made sure of the points with second-half goals as the visitors wilted.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola made four changes from the side beaten by Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday. Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jack Grealish, Ilkay Gundogan and Sterling were given the nod.
Kyle Walker, Foden, Riyad Mahez and Bernardo Silva missed out, with all but Walker on the bench. Newcastle chief Eddie Howe opted to replace Fabian Schar, Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Willock with Jamaal Lascelles, Chris Wood and Sean Longstaff.
City received a boost when Liverpool could only draw 1-1 draw with Tottenham on Saturday. And they knew that three points against the Magpies would see them put one hand on the trophy.
Kevin de Bruyne was handed an early chance to get the ball rolling but fired wide from a free kick on six minutes. And they nearly paid the price as the visitors should have scored just three minutes later.
Allan Saint-Maximin’s ball to the back post saw Joelinton and Wood unmarked. But the latter’s header flew straight at Ederson.
Laporte should have done better with a header from De Bruyne’s corner but it was not too long before City were in front through Sterling.
Gundogan’s ball to the far post was headed back by Joao Cancelo, with Sterling on hand to head home on 19 minutes.
The Magpies responded, with Wood forcing the ball home on 24 minutes only for the assistant to raise his flag for offside. But they fell two goals behind in the 38th minute as Laporte notched his fourth of the season.
Martin Dubravka failed to hold Gundogan’s shot, with the Spaniard then slotting home the rebound from close…
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